Join Club

Startup Working to Bring Internet to the Entire World is Coming to Rosslyn

Startup Monday header

Editor’s Note: Sponsored by Monday Properties and written by ARLnow.com, Startup Monday is a weekly column that profiles Arlington-based startups and their founders, plus other local technology happenings. The Ground Floor, Monday’s office space for young companies in Rosslyn, is now open. The Metro-accessible space features a 5,000-square-foot common area that includes a kitchen, lounge area, collaborative meeting spaces, and a stage for formal presentations.

OneWeb Rosslyn Office (courtesy of Monday Properties)Imagine a world where every person in every city or town or village in every country had access to fast, affordable Internet.

Satellite company OneWeb is working to make this vision a reality by launching a constellation of nearly 700 low-orbit satellites, and it’s moving to Rosslyn.

Last month, the company announced it is leasing 6,000 square feet of office space at 1400 Key Blvd, meaning OneWeb’s central operation will be moving to Arlington in the near future.

“Washington is one of the key international hubs for the aerospace and satellite industries, and the area’s deep talent pool will be a tremendous asset as we continue to expand our operations, including finding a site for a network operations center and a satellite operations center,” said OneWeb CEO Matt O’Connell about the move.

The space is part of Monday Properties’ Ground Floor, where other startups and “early stage” companies have also landed.

OneWeb is currently based on Jersey, one of Britain’s Channel Islands. The idea for worldwide Internet access first started in 2002 when founder Greg Wyler started a telecommunications company to bring low-cost cell phone and Internet service to people in Rwanda.

Still, Wyler knew he had to build many more satellites and bring them closer to Earth to achieve international communication, faster speeds, affordable costs and, ultimately, universal access. OneWeb is the means by which he hopes to finally do so.

“This is an enormous long-term project and our goal is to provide reliable high-speed internet access to all communities around the world who don’t currently have access,” O’Connell said. “We believe connectivity is a fundamental layer for societal and economic growth.”

So how would it work?

OneWeb Terminal rendering (courtesy of OneWeb)The constellation would create a network of satellites that communicate with each other to extend Internet coverage across the entire planet. Their closer proximity to Earth would enable this connection as well as improve service performance across the network.

Next, users will be able to purchase low-cost terminals to communicate with the satellites, bringing LTE, 3G and WiFi to the areas they’re housed in. These terminals can be stationary in homes or affixed to the top of emergency vehicles for mobile coverage, for example.

OneWeb hopes to launch its satellites — 648 of them, to be exact — by 2019. In order to accomplish this, the company has attracted several corporate investors and partners, including Sir Richard Branson, The Coca-Cola Company and Airbus Group.

O’Connell said moving forward, the company will have offices in the U.K. and the D.C. area. It’s satellite manufacturing will also be done in a factory in Florida as part of the partnership with Airbus Group.

While O’Connell is a more recent addition to the OneWeb team, for him, the move to Rosslyn is a actually a move into familiar territory. Before he was named CEO, he was a chief executive at GeoEye, another satellite company based in Herndon. O’Connell said he was drawn to Northern Virginia because of its existing high-tech workforce.

OneWeb is also looking to expand its own workforce with the move, hiring in multiple departments, including engineering, finance, law and marketing.

With the company’s goal launch deadline three years away, O’Connell said the team is looking forward to calling Arlington home.

“Our workforce likes Arlington because of the mass transit, the proximity to D.C., and the lifestyle, the restaurants and the bike trails, in particular,” he said. “It’s a great place to build a high-tech company.”

Photos courtesy of Monday Properties and OneWeb

Recent Stories

Good Monday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar. 🕗 News recap The following articles were published earlier today…

An 18-year-old Arlington woman is facing a litany of charges after an reported bike theft led to violence. The incident happened Sunday evening near the intersection of S. Walter Reed…

What do I do if school doesn’t fit my kid? That’s the question that so many of the parents and families ask when they’re looking at small independent schools like…

There is a new play area for kids inside Ballston Quarter with plenty of pint-sized attractions. Located on the first floor of the mall, near the about-to-close Macy’s, Junior Playland…

Well-Paid Maids recently unveiled a new scheduling system.

That means it’s easier than ever to book your professional home cleaning with the only certified living-wage home cleaning service in the D.C. area.

Here’s what to expect when you book your cleaning:

  1. Select your location.

  2. Choose your service (i.e. 1 BD/1BA). (This is also where you’ll see the rate.)

  3. Pick your cleaner. (If you don’t have a preference, opt for “any available.”)

  4. Schedule a date and time. You can also set up recurring cleanings and get a discount!

  5. Enter your information and reserve.

Read More

Submit your own Announcement here.

Are you facing life’s challenges, feeling overwhelmed, or seeking personal growth? Embrace the path to emotional well-being with our expert psychotherapy services!

Why Choose Us?

Our team of compassionate and experienced psychotherapists is here to guide you on your journey to inner peace, self-discovery, and positive change. We provide a safe and supportive environment where you can explore your thoughts and feelings without judgment.

What We Offer:
✔️ Individual Therapy
✔️ Couples Counseling
✔️ Anxiety & Stress Management
✔️ Depression Treatment
✔️ Trauma Healing
✔️ Self-Esteem Building
✔️ Life Transitions Support
✔️ And Much More!

Read More

Submit your own Announcement here.

Portofino Italian Wine Dinner, April 6, 6:30pm

Four course Italian dinner, paired with 2 wines each. The wines will be served “blind” and notes on each wine will be discussed. The event is coordinated with Elite Wine Importers and The Portofino Restaurant. The dinner is on Saturday,

×

Subscribe to our mailing list